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What percentage of worldwide CO₂ emissions are attributed to aviation?

Understanding the Impact of Aviation on Global CO₂ Emissions and Climate Change

Aviation is a critical industry that plays a significant role in global CO2 emissions and climate change. Despite accounting for just 2.5% of the world’s carbon emissions, aviation has contributed around 4% to global warming to date. This discrepancy can be attributed to the unique impact of aviation on the environment, including the emission of other atmospheric gases and pollutants beyond CO2.

The growth in aviation emissions over the last half-century can be attributed to increased demand for air travel and technological improvements in the industry. As more people fly and more goods are transported by air, the overall carbon footprint of aviation has increased. However, advancements in energy efficiency have helped offset some of these emissions, with planes becoming more than twice as energy efficient since 1990.

Despite these efficiency gains, the carbon intensity of aviation fuel has remained constant, leading to a doubling of emissions from 1990 to 2019. In 2019, global aviation emitted around 1 billion tonnes of CO2, representing a significant contribution to overall global emissions.

When considering the broader impact of aviation on climate change, including the effects of other atmospheric pollutants, the industry’s contribution to global warming is estimated to be around 4%. This highlights the complex nature of aviation’s environmental impact and the need for sustainable solutions to reduce emissions in the future.

Decarbonizing the aviation sector is a challenging task, given the industry’s reliance on traditional jet fuel. Moving towards low-carbon alternatives such as electrification, biofuels, and hydrogen will be crucial in reducing the environmental impact of aviation in the long term. Without significant progress in transitioning to cleaner fuels, aviation will continue to be a major contributor to global emissions.

Overall, the data and research presented in this article underscore the importance of addressing aviation emissions to mitigate the industry’s impact on climate change. By understanding the drivers of aviation emissions and exploring sustainable solutions, we can work towards a more environmentally friendly future for air travel.
The data and sources provided in the article are as follows:

1. Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions. But it has contributed around 4% to global warming to date.
– Source: Our World in Data article by Hannah Ritchie, published online at [OurWorldInData.org](https://ourworldindata.org/global-aviation-emissions)

2. The information presented in the article is based on research conducted by Candelaria Bergero and colleagues, as well as a paper by David Lee and colleagues.
– Sources:
– [Bergero et al. (2022) – Nature Sustainability](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-022-01046-9)
– [Lee et al. (2020) – ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231020305689)

3. The data on historical changes in aviation demand, efficiency, and contribution to climate change is sourced from the paper by Candelaria Bergero and colleagues published in Nature Sustainability.
– Source: [Bergero et al. (2022) – Nature Sustainability](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-022-01046-9)

4. Data on global CO2 emissions from aviation since the 1960s is sourced from a paper by David Lee and colleagues.
– Source: [Lee et al. (2020) – ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231020305689)

5. The calculation of aviation’s share of global emissions is based on data from the Global Carbon Project.
– Source: [Global Carbon Project](https://globalcarbonbudget.org/)

6. Estimates on the overall effect of aviation on global warming, including radiative forcing and contribution to global temperature rise, are sourced from studies by David Lee et al. and another study.
– Sources:
– [Lee et al. (2020) – ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231020305689)
– [Study on global temperature rise](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac286e)

7. Information on the challenges of decarbonizing the aviation sector and the need for energy efficiency improvements and low-carbon fuel adoption is based on the analysis presented in the article.
– Source: Our World in Data article by Hannah Ritchie, published online at [OurWorldInData.org](https://ourworldindata.org/global-aviation-emissions)

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